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European University Institute - Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies

Voting Advice Applications (VAAs) | Lorenzo Cicchi

What are Voting Advice Applications and how can they help citizens decide what party to vote for during elections? In this Schuman Shorts, Research Fellow Lorenzo Cicchi explains how they work and how they can positively impact the democratic process around elections.

08 November 2023 | Video

Voting Advice Applications are important tools to help citizens decide which party or candidate to vote for in elections, by matching personal policy preferences to parties' standpoints. Research Fellow Lorenzo Cicchi explains the impact and positive effects it has on voters and elections in general in this Schuman Shorts.

The EUI has published several Voting Advice Applications for the European elections, in 2009, 2014 and 2019, helping citizens find which party best matches their preferences in their country and across Europe. The project was replicated for a number of important national elections: the German federal elections of 2021, the French presidential elections, the Italian general elections in 2022 and the 2023 the Estonian elections. The free Voting Advice Application is designed to provide a politically neutral source of information to voters, relying on independent academic expertise.

A Voting Advice Application for the 2024 European Parliament Elections is currently being developed.

Last update: 08 November 2023

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